Belt-tightener



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

ModeL) A. BOX.

BELT TIGHTENER.

Patented Aug. 28, 1883.

3 SheetsSheet 2.

(ModeL) A. BOX.

BELT TIGHTENBR.

Patented Aug. 28, 1883.

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' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. BOX.

BELT TIGHTENER.

(ModeL) Patentd Aug. 28, 1883.

Parent t rricn.

ALFRED BOX, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BELT-TEGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 283,856, dated August28, 1883. Application tiled January 30,1883. (Modem To all whom it mayconcern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED BOX, of the city and county of Philadelphia,in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Belt Tighteners or Clamps for Taking up the Slack in Belts, of whichthe following is a specification.

The subject of my invention is a toothed frame made of malleable iron orother suitro able metal, having on its edges or sides teeth into whichmesh two pinions, to which is attached a movable or sliding head adaptedto travel parallel with the said frame, and provided with two eccentricor cam rollers to an- I tomatically clamp and hold the belt in place,while the ends are drawn together by the racks and pinions, and insuringthe correct pulling of the belt at all times.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention relates to makeand use the same, I will proceed to describe it more particularly,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device, showing the belt inposition. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3is a perspective view,representing the frame with teeth out on its under side. Fig. 4: is asection view, showing the rack and pinion. Fig. 5 is the slidinghead-removed. Fig. 6 is a cam removed.

In the figures, A A represent the rack-bars of the frame, near one endof which are cast journals cm. The journal (0 is of socket form,

while a is open, and together they form the 3 5 bearing-surfaces for thecam or eccentric roller B.

Beneath the journals (0 a is a connectingbar, A, for rigidly attachingthe rack-bars to each other, and serving, also, in connection.

with the cam 13, as'a guide or clamp for holding the belt, ashereinafter more fully de scribed. I prefer to make the cam 13 as lightas possible, as in this case it will the more effectually perform itsoffice. The end I) of cam B, which journals in the socket a, isballshaped, and a narrow neck forms the connection between b and ashoulder of the cam B.

The end b of the cam turning in the j ournal a is a plain spindle. At bis a small leverhandle, by which the cam can be turned, if necessary, toclamp or loosen the belt. These rollers may be smooth, as shown in thedrawings, or they may be corrugated or be provided with several pointedteeth, by which means a greater hold or grip on the belt can beobtained.

C G are two sliding heads, connected together by rigid beam 0, andmoving upon the rack-bars A A, by means of which the belt is drawntight. The sliding heads 0 O are provided on their under sides with twojournalreceptacles, D D. The diameter of these receptacles are identicalwith the diameters of the pinion-wheels E E which move therein, so thatthe said pinion-wheels E E, with their exterior flanges, e e, can easilyrevolve, and at the same time fill the receptacles, thereby preventingany shaking of the said pinion-wheels. These pinion-wheels are alsoprovided with a connection-shaft, F, which establishes a uniformmovement between the same. The pin ion-wheels E E, with their flanges ee and the shaft F, are preferably cast in one piece. The rack-cars A Amove in openings of the sliding heads C G and mesh with the pinionwheelsE E. The latter may be operated by a handle, f, or where more power isrequired I employ a worm or screw.

Upon the sliding heads 0 O are cast journals G G, similar to a a, forthe reception of the cam or eccentric roller H. The journal G, like thejournal a, is socket form, to correspond with the ball h of the cam H,which revolves therein. The spindle h is similar to the spindle b, andturns in a like journal.

The cam H is also provided with a lever, i, by means of which it can beeasily operated, if necessary. In connection with the beam 0 a guide isformed for the belt drawn from that end.

A breaking device is shown at J to prevent the mechanism shifting whenit is set at the desired place.

By means of the balland-socket joint, as shown in Fig. 3, the cams willturn automatically and press against the belt when the apparatus isoperated. At the same time, when it is desired, the tightener can beplaced on an endless belt by lifting the spindle ends of the camswithout cutting or removing the belt from the pulleys, and after drawingthe belt up the desired amount it can be cut and relaced.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newtherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A belt-tightener having means for automatically clamping a belt intwo places, and provided with mechanism, substantially as described,whereby the said belt may be drawn up, out, and relacedwithout removingit from its pulleys.

2. In a belt tightener or. clamp, a double rack and'pinion-wheels,.asand for the purposes set forth.

3. In abelt-tightener, the combination, with the double rack andpinion-wheels, of the sliding head and clamping device, substantially asset forth.

4. In abelt-tightener, the combination of the sliding head and revolvingcam, having a balland-socket joint, and spindle bearing in an openjournal, as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In combination with the sliding head having pinion-wheels meshing ina double rack; and a clamping device for holding the belt, of asecondclamp for holding one end of the belt to be sewed while the'other isdrawn toward it.

' ALFRED BOX.

Witnesses:

A. L. DORMON, HENRY ERRIO.

